March I or II with Architecture Minor

College Majors Architecture Major
1

Hi everyone, I’m a undergraduate in Civil Engineering and am pursuing a minor in Architecture. I will apply for M.Arch and according to me research, there are typically two types of M.Arch:

  1. M.Arch I- 3.5 years or 7 semesters - a professional degree for students who don't have an undergraduate degree in Architecture
  2. M.Arch II - 2.5 years or 5 semesters - a professional degree for students who have an undergraduate degree in Architecture and have successfully completed between four and six semesters of undergraduate design studio courses.

My question is that if I complete four semesters of undergraduate design studio courses but do not have an undergraduate degree in architecture, which program will it get me into? Or somewhere in between where some courses are waived out?

2

@mapleaf827, Unfortunately there’s no single answer to your question. Aside from minimum course requirements mandated by NCARB, each Master of Architecture program operates a little differently. Even the degree names – MArch I and MArch II – aren’t universally applied.

It’s difficult to quantify the degree in years or semesters as requirements vary: some have thesis semesters, some have co-op work programs, some have summer courses.

I doubt that you would be able to apply directly to an MArch II program. If you’re accepted to an MArch I program you would most likely get advanced placement for some your engineering courses. You may be exempted from some studio requirements or may not. At the more “design” focused schools, probably not.

At the end of the day architecture programs want to keep you enrolled as long as possible. advanced placement, exemptions and waivers can be inconsistently granted, and appealing administrative decisions is common. The best course would be to ask the question of a few schools that you’re interested in applying to and see what they come back with.

3

I was surprised at the number of schools that pretty much mandated a 3 to 3.5 year M.Arch regardless of undergrad education… They may not say it directly, but if the plan of study includes studio and FOUR additional arch classes,well… You will likely get advanced placement for some courses but it’s not guaranteed, and is very school dependent.